What process often leads to a population's increased ability to survive in changing environments?

The process that often leads to a population's increased ability to survive in changing environments is adaptation. Adaptation refers to the gradual process through which species adjust to new conditions in their environment, developing traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success. These traits can be structural, behavioral, or physiological changes that enable organisms to respond to changes such as climate shifts, availability of food, or the presence of new predators.

While natural selection plays a key role in facilitating adaptation by favoring individuals with advantageous traits, adaptation itself is the broader concept encompassing the totality of these changes over time. This means that adaptation is the ultimate outcome of evolutionary processes, including natural selection. Therefore, when populations encounter changes in their environments, adaptation is essential for enhancing their resilience and capability to thrive under new circumstances.